The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Maternity \Ma*ter"ni*ty\, n. [F. maternit['e], LL. maternitas.]
   1. The state of being a mother; motherhood.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The character of a mother; maternal quality; motherliness.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The maternity ward; the maternity department of a
      hospital.
      [PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

maternity \ma*ter"ni*ty\, a.
   1. Of or pertaining to childbirth or the period during which
      a woman is pregnant; as, maternity care; a maternity
      hospital.
      [PJC]

   2. For use during pregnancy; as, a maternity outfit.
      [PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

maternity
    n 1: the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to
         birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
         [syn: pregnancy, gestation, maternity]
    2: the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother
       [syn: motherhood, maternity]
    3: the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth
       and affection of or befitting a mother; "the girl's
       motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children"
       [syn: motherliness, maternalism, maternal quality,
       maternity]